By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 2155
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority to appear by telephone or videoconference
in municipal and justice courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 45, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 45.0201. APPEARANCE BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEOCONFERENCE.
If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to
appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing [under
Article 45.0445 or 45.045] would impose an undue hardship on the
defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by
telephone or videoconference.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on September 1, 2023.